Nike’s Road To Integrating Innovation and Sustainability

The learning curve is still turning and winding for Nike, but the company has made progress. During last year’s World Cup in South Africa, Nike made waves among football players and fans for its jerseys made out of recycled plastic bottles. Within its industry, Nike has led with efforts such as the Sustainable Clothing Coalition and GreenXchange . Not everyone is happy; the company reduced some of its philanthropic activities in exchange for investing in disruptive technologies that down the road could help build a better, cleaner, and safer planet. But for Nike, creating a company culture where innovation means invention with value has made it a leader not just in Portland and within the apparel industry, but among other industries that are now taking sustainability seriously.